Balance Requested from ACT Network: US$ 51,067

In November 2003 the African Civil Society, Governance and AIDS Initiative (GAIN) and Justice Africa (JA) were invited by the world-wide church alliance in emergencies, Action by Churches Together (ACT International) to produce a policy/issues paper on HIV/AIDS and emergencies and design workshops for members of ACT on the issue. In May 2004, the proposal was revised and updated to take account of the growing expertise in the field of HIV/AIDS and food security among different organisations, and the particular added value of ACT and its partnerships. This appeal is to raise the required funds to carry out the required work towards the production of the policy/issues paper.

The policy/issues paper will provide an overview of the state-of-the-art concerning HIV/AIDS and emergencies including a guide to resources available. The workshops’ aim will be twofold (1) to draw and compile lessons learned from the experience of (local) implementing members responding to the challenges of HIV/AIDS while meeting their primary functions and ensuring effective responses to the AIDS induced crisis in food insecurity, household income, psycho-social and spiritual support. (2) Identifying creative and effective ways and strategies of responding to the food security, social and spiritual crises unleashed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

This project is based on the assumption that communities, individuals and organisations that are in the front line against the epidemic have considerable untapped experience and insight into the problems they face and how they can respond effectively. The workshops will seek to build upon the high quality partnership between ACT members and partners, and focus upon the added value that can be obtained through a holistic approach that is people centred, based upon and fully integrating the spiritual dimension of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Total Appeal Target(s): 75,487

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 24,420

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 51,067

Signed by:

John Nduna
Acting Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office